Physical therapy is rewarding, but it’s rarely easy. Oftentimes there are a number of hurdles to your therapy, and if you’re not careful, they can end up inhibiting your rehab or causing a major setback. In today’s blog, we take a look at some of those potential hurdles, and more importantly, we explain how you can overcome them.
Hurdles To Successful Physical Therapy
Here’s a look at four common pitfalls to a successful physical therapy program, and how to prevent them from hindering your recovery.
- The Time Requirement – One obstacle to a successful rehabilitation through physical therapy is the extensive time commitment it requires. For some people, they need multiple sessions each week for a number of months in order to make a full recovery. That can seem daunting and overwhelming, which can contribute to missed sessions. While it may seem like a big time commitment, many patients find it helpful if they take things one day at the time and focus on what they have to gain assuming physical therapy goes as planned and is successful. You’re not doing all these exercises for some minimal reward, you’re doing them to become as healthy and physically fit as possible, and that’s one of the best rewards one can hope for. If you’re ever struggling to find motivation to carve out time for therapy, focus on the end game, which is your long-term health.
- Can’t See Progress – Bone can break instantaneously, but they take weeks and months to heal. You cannot expect your progress to be quick or sudden, and having this expectation only further complicates your recovery because you aren’t seeing the results you expected. Unrealistic goals and timelines can prove detrimental to fulfilling your physical therapy requirements, so it’s important that you talk with your doctor and your physical therapist about your expected recovery timeline. Even then, don’t expect this to be concrete. Focus on small, attainable goals, and after a while you’ll notice some big gains in your progression. Some even find it helpful to write about their symptoms, their therapy routine and their progress as a way of charting their improvement over time. Find what works for you.
- It’s Not Physically Easy – Progress doesn’t come by doing simple, easy to perform exercises. Your physical therapist is going to test you and push you to your limits. While you may find that frustrating in the moment, you’ll thank them in the long run, because this is what will drive home functional improvement. Some people don’t want to participate in therapy because it is hard work, and while we understand that, you get out what you put in, so we promise you’ll see the spoils of your hard work in the end. It won’t always be easy, but it will be worth it, so don’t let the fact that it’s physically challenging be a deterrence.
- Don’t Know Where To Turn For Help – Finally, one potential obstacle to successful treatment is the simple fact that you don’t know where to turn for advice or help cultivating the perfect rehab program. You have a choice when it comes to selecting a clinic or a physical therapist, so don’t be afraid to shop around for one that is a perfect match for your situation. At OrthoRehab Specialists, we have therapists in all walks of life who have plenty of experience helping with the aspects that are most important to you. Whether you want a former collegiate athlete to help in your recovery after surgery, or you want a PT who understands the childbirth process firsthand and can help with your pelvic floor exercises, we can find a therapist that suits your individual needs. Let us be a resource for you.
For more information or to learn more about how we can help with your physical therapy needs, reach out to the experienced team at OrthoRehab Specialists today.